400W organic soil stealth cab - TGA Apollo-13, Mr. Nice Medicine Man, OG Kush

[Senseimilla]

History

A few years ago before they were shut down, I cut my teeth growing as a regular member of Overgrow.com and Cannabis World. If you were active at that time you may have seen me by the name 'Unknown Seeds' and later 'Apollo11Genius'. My current stock includes TGA Apollo-13 Bx1, Cannacopia Genius x Deep Chunk and on order is Greenhouse King's Kush, Chemdog, and Bubba Kush, Serious Seeds White Russian, Sensi Seeds Mr. Nice G13 x Hashplant, Reservea Privada Sour Kush & OG Kush, and Mr. Nice Medicine Man. First grow is going to be Apollo-13 and Medicine Man.

Unknown seeds referred to the first bagseed grow I did. Shitty schwag bagseeds -- I don't even know where to get weed that comes off of a compressed mexican brick anymore THANK GOD. Did the typical newbie miracle gro/scotts storebought, chemical fertiler grow, rushing the harvest on a plant that possibly couldn't even be grown out fully under a 400w light (since it was probably a 120+ day strain). It was weak. So weak.

But then I read about growing organically, getting seeds from seedbanks. So I moved up to mixing my own soil and this time I ordered a bunch of Nirvana seeds -- Ak-48, Blue Mystic, White Rhino, White Widow. I grew Ak-48 first and was not that impressed (could have been my skills or rushing the plant). It looked nice but did not have the 'knock your dick in the dirt' high I bought it for based on reputation. Blue Mystic was very mellow awesome tasing bud - not a knockout stone but very relaxing, mild painkilling and good anti-nausea medicine. White Rhino and White Widow were the most potent and very stoney. Super solid buzz and good yields but neither of them the killer buzz I ultimately am looking for.

Later I also ordered some Apollo 11 f2 seeds (can't remember breeder) -- that Genius high is what I seek. I didn't get a true genius pheno, but I definitely got some genius influenced plants with the soaring, cerebral, creative high. The kind that will make you sit down and right several pages about something at one sitting. I always wanted to find Apollo-13 and Genius seeds or cuttings, but was never able to -- until now.

Along with the Apollo I ordered some Paradise Sensi Star and Matanuska Tundra from another breeder. Sensi Star was a great looking plant and smelled like rotting gym socks. BEAUTIFUL indica plants and very potent stoney buzz but still not the grail I sought. Matanuska Tundra also great, solid, beautiful plants but honestly don't even remember how the buzz was other than I don't remember being disappointed

So after close to 2 years of growing I ended up having to shut my grow down due to my daughter getting old enough to start getting suspicious. A few years later I ended up getting divorced and smoked quite a bit less as I restructured my life from what it had been before to something new. Ended up selling most everything I owned (including trading/giving away almost all my grow supplies) and moving overseas for a year where I got married again. Returned to the US and have settled down with my new wife here and there are just so many reasons for growing again. I love it. I really only have 3 passions in my life. My family, growing and smoking, and mixed martial arts. I live a responsible lifestyle and have a good job but my work is not my passion.

I'm looking to move in the next 1-2 years probably to Colorado - but waiting to see what happens in other states for legalization I may have to go whereever that happens first as I'm just sick of living where I can be thrown in jail for years just for loving growing a plant and not wanting to support a black market for shit that I have NO idea what's in it.
Grow Cab



OK, well it's not brand new. Picked this up for $95 delivered on craigs list. It's nothing fancy and it's got a few issues I'll have to address for the grow which I'll detail when I get into finishing it out in a day or two.

Cabinet interior dimensions:

Height: 63" (5'3")
Width: 45" (3'9")
Depth: 19" (1'7")

My mission, should I choose to accept it:

1. Level the cabinet (it is not sitting level where it's at and you can tell on close inspection/closing doors.
2. Seal and secure the cabinet interior. One of the panels is loose from the frame and the interior is not sealed to prevent light coming out or in and unwanted airflow.
3. Install a shelf to allow for a mother/cloning chamber.
4. Install a central plank vertically in front where the doors close to block light and allow further securing of the doors.
5. Create exhaust vent/intakes.
6. Paint interior flat white.
7. Secure doors against intrusion.
8. Install lighting/ventilation.
9. Get busy growing.

Going into this cab is a 400w digital mh/hps switchable system in a 6" cooltube w/ enhanced spectrum bulbs. Also coming are 2 240w inline fans and a 6"x22" carbon filter I'm hoping will handle a lot of the smell (going to be getting a general purpose room ozone generator to help cover up any additional smell as well as my smoke smell later).

Will also probably be adding a blackstar LED flower light for additional watts and enhanced spectrum when I put them into flower. Haven't decided on 240w or 500w yet may depend on how much money I feel like spending when the time comes.

My Genetics



So these are my seeds. I got them from hempdepot.ca for $75 each. Took my money order almost 3 weeks to get there but the seeds were here less than a week after they sent them. Prompt and cordial customer service.

The TGA seeds definitely have the classic apollo look. Not sure how genius or deep chunk seeds look -- they are the same size as the apollo beans (which look just like my apollo 11 ones did almost exactly) -
I can't tell if they are just lighter or if a couple of them are not quite mature. I probably won't sprout those til later this year so we'll see. Unless I find a super mom in the first apollo seeds I sprout, I'm going to finish sprouting that pack before I get to the Cannacopia.

I'm having an internal debate over whether to wait to sprout the seeds at the same time as my other order comes in. I'm hoping they arrive later this week but no guarantee. They were sent from UK last monday the 23rd.

I have 4 Medicine Man seeds coming and planning on sprouting 4 Apollos to hopefully get at least 2 females for each. I usually get 70%+ females when I germinate so I may well end up with 5 or 6 females which is going to be a problem in my space. I am probably not going to veg this first run too long since I need to get some kind of harvest in and will probably flower them smaller to get more of them in the space to identify the keepers then maximize space/yields on the next run.

I'm moving around the end of april or may so hoping I'll be able to get a separate flower space with more room going at that point so I can get a few more females in each flower and get more strains in. I have a lot of strains coming that I'm excited to grow out. A lot of stuff I wanted to get to before but didn't get a chance to.

---

I got my order from single seed center. Exactly one week after they shipped -- very nice!!! Hope they are what they say since they don't come in the original pack.

I am going to start germinating seeds tonight.

My light/vent equipment is scheduled to arrive tomorrow.

 

[mipainpatient]

Welcome back bro, sounds like you're gonna be swimmin' in killer smoke in no time.

 

[Senseimilla]

I just started my seeds germing tonight - water method is what I use. Soak'em til the tap root cracks the seed then plant in soil. For me I get better results than planting directly in soil (both in survival and speed) or the paper towel method (survival).

In separate containers: 2 x Apollo 13bx1, 2x Mr Nice Medicine Man, 1x Reserve Privada OG Kush

Hoping to get 3 females (hopefully no more than 4). If I end up with more than 3 I will veg less time - if I end up with less than 3 I will veg longer.

Will be FIMing and planning on scrogging (never done it before)

I was so tempted to go for a G13xHashplant in this round too but I don't want to end up with too many moms.

Once my mom/clone chamber is done I will probably go ahead and pop all/most of the seeds to keep as bonsai clone moms so that future flowers will be from clone with mature plants.

Will have pics for initial planting in a day or two when they go into the cab. Also will have pics of the cab which I have to finish out in the next couple of days.

Mixing super soil thursday when azomite arrives. Have all the other ingredients. Should be ready for my moms by the time they start maturing sexually. I'm going to speed up the process of activating it by watering it with a biologically active tea.

Will be documenting the super soil mix, cab finishing, etc. I'm not a super handy guy but I get by -- finishing this cab out should be a fun challenge.

I can't wait to see first leaves in less than a week.

 

[loyaltytoafault]

I'll for sure be following along bro. Sounds like you know what your doing here, sub'd!+rep

 

[Senseimilla]

Just checked the seeds after around 16 hours germing. Not much new. I swirled'em in the water and one of the MMs dropped to the bottom but the rest are still floating. Gotta check'em pretty regularly after they drop to get them when they just crack the taproot. Once the roots get over 1/4" long or so if left in water my experience is survival decreases. If I get them right after the taproot cracks the shell (about 1mm long) I get 95%+ survival. Getting last of cab supplies this afternoon and should be posting up pics of the cab work later. Expect to have seedlings above soil 2 nights from now. Lighting/vent equipment on the truck for delivery this afternoon.

 

[Voidling]

I made the jump and subscribing. Forgot to say that I'm sure you'll get dialed back in in no time.

Wish you still had that sensei star, I hear it's a great cure for insomnia.

I'm really wanting to get into led panels for my summer grows. You know how the heat gets and that puts too much of a load on the a/c as it is. But considering that I just spent $140 on the 400w plus the $170 for the additional ventilation the leds will have to wait until next summer.

Your story reminds me of a website that's all about why not to marry an american woman and to get a bride from another country.

Your order from single seed should be just fine, they are legit from my reading, that's where I had ordered from.

Did you get the revolt kit from gotham hydroponics? That's what I got except with the small batwing bc their cool tube is too long for my use.

 

[Senseimilla]

Sensi is some good indica that's good for sleep but it is a stinky mofo. Definitely not a stealthy strain. The only good stealth thing about her is she's not too stretchy for height like most indicas.... beautiful fat indica fan leaves. Makes me drool a bit thinking about it.

Can't remember what the name of the kit was but may be.. it was the kit with the light, timer, mh & hps bulb, hangers, etc. Should be here in the next couple of hours -- oh boy!

 

[Senseimilla]

That she blows!!!!! Man that cool tube is huge. I see why you did not get it voidling. It's bigger than I wanted for this space, but when I put a 600w bulb in it once we move she'll be juuuuuust perfect. It is the revolt ballast voidling.

This carbon filter is fuckin HUGE. I did not realize it was as big as it was. I am rethinking building out a mother chamber in there now and thinking she is just going to be an all in one chamber for now and later on I will build a separate mom box for bonsais and clones that's smaller. That'll give me the room I need to get that carbon filter in there with some actual space left over hopefully with enough additional space left for a blackstar 240w added at flower. Or if temps aren't near as bad as I expect I may just upgrade to 600w at flower time. We'll see. I got 2 inline can fans that total up to 480cfm which is about what the carbon filter is rated for max, so I think I have enough ventilation for 30 ft2 of space and a 400w light. I still need to go to the hardware store and pick up a few additional supplies, so I may not get started on it til tomorrow. We'll see.

 

[Voidling]

Yeah I need a smaller cool tube. I got the same ballast but only the hps bulb.

Just got in my fans today, haven't opened them. 2 of the 6in duct booster fans and 1 4in inline fan with carbon filter. Now you have me worried that the carbon filter is going to be too big

 

[jane's phasm]

Nice selection man! I almost got some of the Matanuska from Sagarmantha but I already have like 15 dif strains to play with. Looking forward to that Apollo 13.. Med Man a high CBD?
-subd!

 

[Senseimilla]

I'm not sure what medicine man's CBD is. It's supposed to have tested at over 20% thc that's about all I know -- but based on the effects I'm sure it has a decent amount of CBD can't say how much.

Just put the first coat on the interior of the cabinet. Will be putting another coat on tomorrow. I probably should've caulked it and drilled vent holes first but i'll deal with that in a day or two. I'm going to caulk it before putting second coat of paint on tomorrow.

 

[Senseimilla]

Yeah I need a smaller cool tube. I got the same ballast but only the hps bulb.

Just got in my fans today, haven't opened them. 2 of the 6in duct booster fans and 1 4in inline fan with carbon filter. Now you have me worried that the carbon filter is going to be too big

Yeah that's what I got the 2 duct booster fans. They are a bit louder than I had hoped but they push decent air and I'm sure they won't be near as loud once they are hooked up to venting to muffle the noise and inside the cabinet. The carbon filter is not the standard 16 or 18" one they sell but the 22" one -- it is long I am guessing the others are the same thickness just different lengths. It was the width that surprised me more than the length. It's probably closer to 10" around than 6". Live and learn. As long as it keeps my grow odor way down that's the main thing. Will add a room ozone generator eventually that will cover up any lingering smell the carbon filter doesn't get... hopefully the carbon filter will get it all at least through the start of flower.

 

[Voidling]

For smell in the room I've seen good things about vaportek disks without the units.

I unpacked my boxes and first thought was holy shit. The filter looks like 8in diameter and looks longer than I expected. I think I'll have to push through and have it outside my cab.

I plugged in the duct fans. Most of the noise came from rushing air. I'll have to see if they can be throttled down.

The inline seemed extremely quiet except for rushing air.
Need to see if it can be throttled down and still work with the filter.

Med man was suggested to me as having high cbd. Well more of a reccomendation.

Just painted the inside of my second box white today too.

 

[Voidling]

Oh and I got to figure out how to mount the duct fans. Any ideas?

 

[Senseimilla]

I've never done duct fans myself just had a big ass inline (8") before that i hung off of bungee cords. They're not heavy so I'm assuming if well duct taped all the venting can be supported either with bungees or chains. Going to look in the cab forum and see what other people are doing. Should be done with painting tomorrow and putting in lights and venting thursday - at which time seedlings should be in dirt. Then the real fun begins. YAY!

Gotta keep my filter in the cab since as much stealth as possible is priority #1.

 

[Voidling]

I left my laptop at work so only have my phone, can't see pics well so let me know what you come up with.

Stealth had been a priority but its been downgraded.

Might fit it parallel to the bulb but , would 5har cause problems? Getting full light and heat

 

[Senseimilla]

Planted my seeds this morning -- hurray!! The OG Kush and one medicine man both had strong tap roots coming out at almost 1/4". One seed had barely cracked and the other two had the very starting tap roots poking out of the seed. I went ahead and planted them all instead of leaving the less developed ones in.


This time I went with 9 oz cups instead of 16. I'll transplant after they get a couple of sets of leaves. Want the roots to develop from progressively smaller to larger pots - not afraid of transplants.


When I water germ them I cover the container in foil to keep warmth in and light out. You can see the OG sprout in this pic if you look close.

Easy to put holes in with a knife... these are too small to drill though

This is my fresh made seedling mix. I started with a local mix called Ladybug (all organic) seedling mix which has a lot of good natural stuff in it. I ended up with about 1/3 seedling mix, 1/4 castings, 1/4 perlite & vermiculite, and the rest some added coir.

I bought a bunch of myco products. I'm mixing this in to the soil at seedling stage (i know, would've been better in advance) to get things started. When I transplant into bigger containers I'll use the myco plant success tabs I have.

Myco on top of the soil

Fungi innoculant stirred in before watering


Watered, planted, and waiting to go. I need to get some rubber bands to keep the saran wrap tighter, which I'll bring home from work at lunch. I'll take the saran wrap off when the seedlings break soil.

 

[Senseimilla]

Might fit it parallel to the bulb but , would 5har cause problems? Getting full light and heat

Don't know. at least it would be where it would intake a lot of the hot air I always used ozone before so i'm gonna have to do a little reading later before I make a decision on how to lay things out in there optimally. I'm just going to be psyched when it's all in and going with my little babies!

 

[mr.green123]

I'm tagging along I'm really interested in medicine man I might grow it next time around for a mother plant

 

[Senseimilla]

More work on the cab... caulked all the crevices today at lunch... put a 2nd coat on it tonight, then went back and did a 3rd coat on the interior after doing the doors. Guessing it is going to be getting one more coat. I got plenty of paint. Will do next coat after I put ventilation holes in.

Put the light in the cab and at first I was like... it seems kind of dark.... then I realized I had the ballast set to it's lowest possible dimmer setting... and cranked it up to full. First pic is light as dim as ballast goes. Second is light full blast (MH). Not bad.

Went by lowes again today and blew almost $150... sigh... mostly ventilation supplies and drill bits for the ventilation holes. I believe I have everything but one thing which isn't expensive and I'll get tomorrow. Should be doing the final finishout tomorrow, hanging up light and ventilation, etc.